Sound-reproducing instrument.



F. S. KINNEY, DEGD.

THE nuns LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY, or mw You, 11. Y., nxncu ronz..

SOUND REPRODUOING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 3.9, 1904.

1,071,436. Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

17 /6 i M 9 1 60 11+ 5 w 3 gnome o M UNITED STATESMPATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS S. KINNEY, OF BUTLER, NEW JERSEY; THE FARMERS LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.. EXECUTOR OF SAID KINNEY, DECEASED.

SOUND-BEPBODUCING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Application filed April 9, 1904. Serial No. 202,320.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANCIs S. KINNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butler, county of Morris, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Reproducing Instruments, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in recorders for machines for reproducing sound, such as phonographs and graphophones.

In recorders as now ordinarily constructed, the diaphragms are formed of a thin piece of glass held in position at its edges in the holder of the recorder, this diaphragm being thrown into vibration by the sound waves. The character of the vibrations, of course, depends upon the quality of the tones, and it sometimes happens that where a sound has been such as to produce a vibration of great am )litude, the diaphragm will, after the re )P()( ucer has'operated on the recording surface, be given a secondary vibration, producing a secondary indentation where none should be made, or the rebound of the diaphragm, after the reproducer has operated, will be of such ampli= tude that a weaker sound will fail to'overcome it and force itdown in time so that the reproduccr may properly record it. Furthermore, in sound recording machines as now ordinarily constructed, the reproducer which is actuated by the diaphragm and which acts upon the recording surface, is braced by a comparatively stiff brace extending back from the reproducer to the wall of th diaphragm casing or to the securing device by which the diaphragm is retained in the casing. This still brace, while it permits the reproducer to move under the actuation of the diaphragm, re-

' quires that the reproducer always move in the arc of a circle. The movement of the reproducer is so slight, however, with respect to the radius of the are, that the movements may be considered as substantially right line movements, and there being practically no elasticity or resiliency in the brace the tone value of the diaphragm vibrations are not always transmitted to the cutter. Furthermore, in sound recording instruments the opening in the holder of the recorder for the pipe or tube through which the sound waves are conducted to the diaphragm has been heretofore led into the easin substantially centrally thereof and the tu e extends down thereinto, so that a vertical column of what may be termed dead air has to be overcome bythe sound waves before they reach the air chamber between the top of the diaphragm and the recorder.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved controller for the diaphragms of sound recording instruments, this controller operating, after the record has been made by the reproducer, to prevent the diaphragm in return yibration from passing too far beyond its normal plane.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved reproducer holder which shall be more sensitive to the vibrations of the diaphragm and transmit them more accurately to the reproducer cutter.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved brace by which the reproducer is held in position.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved recorder in which the sound waves shall be directed to the diaphragm in such a manner as to make it unnecessary to overcome a column of dead air before the vibrations reach the chamber between the diaphragm and the recorder casing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements and combinations, as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Referring to the drawings: lligure 1 illustrates in side elevation a recorder embodying certain features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the preferred form of vibration controller. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of another form of vibration controller. Fig. (i is a detail sectional view of the recording stylus, illustrating its means of attachment to the diaphragm.

Referring to said drawings, the usual sup port for the recording surface is indicated at 1, this being a mandrel on which the surface 2, on which the record is made, is mounted. These elements are or mav be the ordinary well-known elements in commen use, the recording surface being the usual wax cylinder.

The recorder comprises a casing 3, which may be of any suitable construction. As illustrated it is circular in form, the diaphragm 4 being mounted in the usual manner. This diaphragm preferably consists,

is usual, of a thin piece of glass, the diaphragm being spaced from the top of the casing by means of a gasket 5, a chamber 6 being thereby formed, into which the sound waves pass. The diaphragm may be retained in position in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by a wax annulus 7.

Thesound waves are introduced into the chamber throughan opening 8 with which connects a pipe or tube 9. In the usualcommercial construction the opening and tube are centrally located with respect to the diaphragm and the ordinary speaking tube, not shown, being connected to this central tube 9. With this construction, the entering sound waves meet a vertical column of air which is dead in the tube, and this vertical column, to a certain extent, apparently prevents the dispersion of the waves throughout the chamber above the dia phragm. \Vhile this form of recorder may be employed with certain features of the invention, in the preferred construction, the opening 8 will be located to one side of the recorder casing and near its perimeter, the end of the tube being enlarged somewhat so as to form a chamber 10, this chamber being in open communication with the chamber 6 formed by the diaphragm and recorder. \Vith this construction the sound waves enter sidewise into the chamber, and practical experience has shown that better results are obtained by this construction than by the usual commercial construction. The chamber 10 may, however, be omitted, if desired, the tube connecting with the chamber in the recorder, as illustrated in Fig. 3;

The tube or pipe 9 is or may be joined to a section 11, this section being supported in a hanger 12. The'usual rubber tube is indicated at 13, the speaking tube 14 being connected to this tube.

An adjustable counterweight is or may be provided for determining the force with which the recorder bears on the recording surface. In the construction shown, this counterweight is marked 9 and is mounted on a pin 9 connected to the tube 9.

In the best constructions, the recorder will be provided with a vibration controller which maybe varied in its construction. This vibration controller will be spring controlled in order that it may perform its function and at the same time not interfere with the required resiliency of the dia-' phragm. One form of this controller is shown in Fig. 3, in which a threaded post 15 passes through an opening in the top of the elongated end of the pipe 9, the threaded portion of the post engaging a nut 18 which is kept from turning by pins 19 which extend upward from the end of the tube. The post is provided with a collar 20 which is engaged by a bent spring 21, this spring being mounted in a short standard 213 rising from the end of the tube 9. This standard is provided with an overhanging arm which carries a set screw 23 by which the force of the spring may be adjusted.

In the best constructions, the post wili engage the diaphragm at a point substantially opposite the attachment of the recording stylus, though it may engage the diaphragm at another point or points in the sound wave field, that is to say, it may engage that part of the diaphragm which is inside the diaphragm retaining means and upon which the sound waves act. Another form of this spring controlled vibrzv tion controller is illustrated in Fig. 5 in which the post 13 is carried on the end of a lever 24., this lever being mounted on a bearing 25 extending upward from the clon gated end of the tube 9. This lever proects under a standard 26 having an overhanging arm in which is mounted a set screw 27. The end of the lever bears upon a spring 28 secured to the elongated end of the tube 9, the action of the spring being limited by the set screw 27. A rubber disk 29 is secured to the under side of the opening through which the post works, this disk serving to close the opening through which the post works and keep the chamber above the diaphragm tight.

It will be seen that the vibration controller in whatever form it may be embodied while in no way interfering with the movement of the diaphragm toward the reproducing surface prevents undue movement of the diaphragm away from the said surface, so that its returnin movements will not be excessive. Furthermore, in the forms illustrated, the vibration controller is adjustable so that its position may be varied according to the different voices or sounds to be reproduced. It furthermore remarked that this feature of adjustability will preferably be retained whatever form or construction of vibration controller be employed.

The recording stylus and holder may be varied widely in form and construction. As shown. the reproducer consists of the usual jeweled cutter point 31. The holder in its preferred form consists of a block 32 which.

may be of any suitable material, butexperi ment has shown that the best resu t are obtained when this lilock is made of ivory. The cutter point 31 is mounted in the end of the block and the connection between the block and the diaphragm is, in the preferred construction, established by means of an arm 33 which extends from the block toward the diaphragm and contacts therewith. IVhilethe contact end of this arm may be variously shaped, the arm preferably terminates in a ball 34. The curved surface of the ball enables a firm contact of the ball and diaphragm to be established and with a limited area of contact. The ball may be secured to the diaphragm in any desired manner, but in the preferred construction, it is connected thereto by an adhesive such as wax or stratena, the adhesive being indicated at 35.

'With a construction such as has been described, it is apparent that a brace must be,

' While the material may be varied, the best results have been obtained where this brace follow with greater accuracy the complex movement of the diaphragm produced by the sound waves. The shape of the brace, the means f0 connecting it to the cutter carrying block, W :and the means by which it is supported,

may be widely varied. A simple way of connecting and supporting it is illustrated in Fig. 6, in which the ivory block 32 is provided' with a slit in which one end of the brace is inserted, the other end-of the-brace being led back and held by the wax annulus 7 which holds the diaphragm in position.

While several modifications have been illustrated, it is to be understood .that

the invention may be embodied in construc-' tions which difi'er widely fromthose illus-' 'trated. It is further to be'undersjtood that, under certain circumstances, certain features of the invention may be used in dependently of other features and that such independent use is contemplated. The invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the specific constructions hereinbefore de scribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is 1. In a recorder the combination with a glass diaphragm, means for supporting the same in position, a recorder holder atthin piece of tached to and actuated by the diaphragm, and a brace for the holder comprising a glass, substantially as described. 2. In a recorder, the combination with a diaphragm, of means for holding the same in position, a recording st-ylus, a holder therefor, an arm on the holder, means for attaching the arm directly to the dia--.

phragm, a brace of thin resilient material connected to the holder, and an adjustable spring controlled vibration controller act:- ing on the diaphragm in the sound wave chamber in open communication with the pipe and, the air chamber, this secondary chamber being of greater area than the opening of the pipe and of less area than the air chamber, and arecorder mounted on the diaphragm.

4. In a recorder, the combination with a casing, of-a diaphragm mounted therein between which and the casing an air chamber 'is formed, a sound conducting pipe, the delivery opening of which is located near the perimeter of the casing, a secondary chamber in open communicationwith the pipe and the air chamber, this secondary cham ber being of greater area than the opening of the pipe and of less varea than the air chamber, a recorder mounted on the diaphragm, and an adjustable vibration con troller bearing on the side of the dia-.

phragm opposite the recorder.- I

5. In'-a recorder, the combination with a casing, of a diaphragm mounted therein between which and the casing an-air chamber is formed, a sound conducting pipe,'the delivery opening of which is located near the perimeter of the casing, a secondary chamcombination with a ber in open communication with the pipeand the air chamber, this secondary chamber being of greater area than the opening of the pipe and of less area than the air chamber, a recorder mounted on the diaphragm, a glass brace for the recorder, and an adjustable vibrationcontroller bearing on the side of the diaphragm opposite the recorder..

6. In a recorder, the combination with-.a glass diaphragm, of means for holding the same in position,'a recorder holder comprising a block, an arm extending from the block, a ball on the arm,'sai d ball bearing against the diaphragm, an adhesive connection between the ball and the diaphragm, a recorder mounted in the holder, and a thin glass brace for the-holder, said brace opcrating to preventthe holder from'becoming detached from the diaphragm during the recording operation, substantially as dea ball on the arm, said ball bearing against the diaphragm, an adhesive connection between the ball and the'diaphragni, thin resilient brace for the holder, said brace operating to prevent the holder from becoming detached from the diaphragm. during the recording operation, a recorder mounted inthejnolder, and an adjustable vibration 1;,

my hand, in the presence of two subscribing 20 witnesses,

' FRANCIS S. KINNEY. 7

Witn%ses:

.J. A. TRAVIS,

W. H. KENNEDY. 

